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In reply to the discussion: Our brains have evolved to look for patterns and assign meaning, even when none exist. [View all]EvolveOrConvolve
(6,452 posts)39. What are science's limitations?
Science is simply a way of gaining knowledge through testable, observable phenomenon in the universe. If an idea is not testable, observable or provable, it exists only in the realm of the imagination. So science can tell you what your brain is doing while in prayer, but it can't tell you if your prayer is going to an actual deity, because that's an untestable idea.
Claiming some imaginary limitation in science and making an accusation of "fundamentalism" is just absurd.
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Our brains have evolved to look for patterns and assign meaning, even when none exist. [View all]
cleanhippie
Mar 2012
OP
So basically saying science can be used to study the brain and the evolution of it is...
Humanist_Activist
Mar 2012
#5
The simplest example of this would be the constellations and looking for shapes in clouds...
Humanist_Activist
Mar 2012
#6
Exactly. And unfortunately, people still assign agenticity as seen in horoscopes.
cleanhippie
Mar 2012
#10
I don't forget that we live in groups, your explanation didn't have anything to do with groups.
Jim__
Mar 2012
#19
Anecdotal evidence: Astrology columns in newspapers. Useless gambling systems.
Jim Lane
Mar 2012
#21
Your answer indicates that you are far more prone to see patterns than to be overly skeptical.
Jim__
Mar 2012
#24
All it takes for overzealous pattern recognition to be an evolutionary advantage...
Silent3
Mar 2012
#50